Don't Pee on the Bee

Well-written

 I recently read an article (unfortunately, I can't remember where it was, so I can't reference it!) that talked about how hand-writing is nearly a thing of the past.  Most kids are proficient at typing yet lack the skill of writing by hand.  One teenager that was interviewed in the article said that he never has to hand write anything at all! 

I remember learning cursive writing and being chastised because the slant of my writing went the wrong way!  (I also used my left hand when I was a baby, and rumor has it that my dad kept putting my fork in my right hand!)  The teacher actually put masking tape on my desk and on the floor to show me how my feet and arm/hand should be positioned when I wrote!  Can you believe that?  I definitely know how to write--even if my slant still is non-existent!

There were several really great "writing" ideas in the December/January 2010 issue of Family Fun magazine.

• Save well-written thank you notes from others and let your kids look at them the next time that they need to send a thank you note.
• Address a large envelope to a relative and then let your family put items in there to send and share.  Could be a note, a picture, an award, anything that your kids want to add.  When the envelope is full, mail it off!

But this is the idea I loved the most!  Probably because it has to do with reading too!

• For a  great way to get some reading and writing in between family and friends,  decorate a three ring binder with a pocket in the front.   Add some paper.  Insert your child's current favorite book and have her write about it on the paper.  Then send it to a friend or family member.  That child can then read the book and add her comments AND send a new book back with new comments about that book.  I think this is such a cool idea!  Kudos to Ashley Rebman for coming up with this idea!  She says that the binder has traveled back and forth every few weeks, and the kids have learned more about each other (they are cousins) and about subjects that they might not have read about without this interaction.

Do you have any great ideas to encourage your kids to write?  Or how about any other horror stories from your youth about learning how to write?

October Family Fun

 
I finally found an hour yesterday to get some reading in!  I made it through the October issue of Family Fun magazine, and, as always, there were some great ideas in there!  I've said it before--I am NOT a crafty person, but this magazine always has such "do-able" looking activities that I find myself thinking I might actually try one!  The other nice thing about this magazine is that you can get online and see most of the magazine during the same month.  (Click on the link above to go there and see for yourself!)  Many of the magazines I get don't put links up until the next issue hits the stands.  Frustrating for me when I want to link you somewhere!  Oh well!

There are TONS of great ideas for costumes, decorations and fun party food!  Of course, those aren't the things that got me turning down the pages (although I like to look at them!)  Here are the pages I turned down this month:

• Make a Glue-Batik Banner (on website)
• Screen-Time Strategies
• Halloween-Candy Science
• Making Sense of Money (on website)
• Let's Find Letter Treasure!  (on website)
• Pumpkin Squares with Cider Caramel Sauce (on website)
• The Sport-Brella

Food allergies and "green" milk jugs

Still cruising through some magazines from last month with pages turned down--the sign that there is something blog-worthy in there!  Found all of this in the September issue of Family Fun magazine.  And I know this first topic is DEFINITELY worth sharing!

The Food Allergy Mama website is Kelly Rudnicki's blog with lots of information about children and food allergies as well as great recipes and a link to her newly published book.  Even if your child doesn't have allergies, check it out.   There are ideas and recipes on how to do things like bring birthday treats to school that are less potentially threatening to children with food allergies.  Knowing my friend, Sara, and her two children (both with food allergies), this is truly important information for all parents to know! 

Check out this link to her post about how misinformed the public is about food allergies.  It might shock you OR give you some of that knowledge Plato and I were talking about the other day! 

There was also a great article called 15 Smart School-Day Solutions with some great ideas.  Two were truly innovative, and although I might be the kind of mom who loves the idea of this, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't do it.  But I would really admire the mom who did!  How about making ecofriendly containers from juice cartons and milk jugs?

Hope you learned something new today! 

Family Fun magazine

Woo hoo!  It's that time of the month when the new magazines start arriving!  But that means I really need to try and get through the stack I've already read and want to post about!  Aaahhh!  I think I'm going to have to try "summarizing" this pile!

Family Fun is a great magazine!  It is put out by Disney but is not full of Disney stuff.  The magazine has a great variety of articles, ideas, etc.  In going through the April issue (Yes, it's still sitting on the livingroom table!), here is what I have found or done:

• 3 great ideas for getting rid of your child's grumpies
• A story about a Grandmother's Tea
• Great ideas for gardening with your kids
• A yummy recipe for Indonesian Beef Satay with Peanut Sauce
• Several ideas for cool yard art projects for the kids--and Daddy!
• 25 great recycling ideas from moms
• A possible birthday present idea for JJ
• DEFINITE Christmas present idea for one of my nephew's
• A possible Christmas present idea for one of my nieces

Perhaps now you understand how I couldn't file away the April issue! 

I just flipped through May issue.  Another good and easy sounding recipe.  Another cool outdoor art idea.  A treehouse vacation I would love to take!  A fun outdoor game to play with a group of friends.

Click here for more ideas from the April and May 2009 issue.  April and May 2009 Family Fun (Both recipes mentioned can be found on the Recipes page of my blog. )  One of the best things about this magazine is the cost!  Right now you can get 10 issues for $10!  It is well worth it!  Even little ol' not-so-craft me has been inspired!  Have fun!